The first Canadian astronaut will soon orbit the moon on a mission with three other astronauts.
On Monday, NASA announced Jeremy Hansen, 47, along with Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman will be heading to space on the Artemis II mission.
Hansen is a fighter pilot from London, Ont. In 2017, he became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class of candidates from Canada and the U.S.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission to the lunar vicinity since 1972 and the 10-day mission is designed to test the Orion spacecraft’s systems which were adapted to meet the needs of a crew on board.
“We are going back to the Moon, and Canada is at the centre of this exciting journey. Thanks to our reputation as a trusted partner and our longstanding collaboration with NASA, a Canadian astronaut will fly on this historic mission,” François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said in a news release on Monday.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I want to congratulate Jeremy for being at the forefront of one of the most ambitious human endeavours ever undertaken. Canada’s participation in the Artemis program will spur the creation of thousands of highly skilled jobs, boost innovation and be a source of national pride for years to come,” he continued.
Artemis II is expected to take place next year, and will mark Canada as the second official country to send an astronaut to the moon.
“Being part of the Artemis II crew is both exciting and humbling. I’m excited to leverage my experience, training, and knowledge to take on this challenging mission on behalf of Canada,” Hansen said in a news release.
“I’m humbled by the incredible contributions and hard work of so many Canadians that have made this opportunity a reality. I am proud and honoured to represent my country on this historic mission,” the astronaut continued.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced significant investments in Canada’s space program in Feb. 2019, backing Canada’s commitment to lunar exploration.
Canada’s 2023 Budget confirmed $1.43 billion will assist lunar exploration and the development of a lunar utility vehicle.
